Cast and Crew:  Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis (Screenplay and Story); John Milius (Co-Writer, Producer); John Williams (Score);Dub Taylor, Elisha Cook Jr., Joe Flaherty, John Belushi, John Landis, , Lionel Stander, Lorraine Gray, Nancy Allen, Robert Stack, , Slim Pickens, Tim Matheson, Toshiro Mifune, Treat Williams, Warren Oates, Wendie Jo Sperber, John Candy, David L. Lander, Michael McKean, Dick Miller, Mickey Rourke

What It’s About:  A Japanese crew manning a German sub with a German naval attaché (Christopher Lee) are cruising Southern California attempting to bomb Hollywood.  At the same time, various Angelenos get caught up in the hysteria of the time, try to get laid, try to win contracts with RKO, and so on.  Eventually all the characters meet during a riot, air battle and a duel between the sub, a homeowner with a 40mm AA gun (Ned Beatty), two aircraft spotters on a Ferris wheel (Murray Hamilton and Eddie Deezen), and a Grant tank (crewed by Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, and Frank McRae).

Why Watch it Today?: The film opens on December 13th, 1941.  Although it’s not  a perfect comedy, 1941 is worth seeing at least once for its cast, the jokes that work, and because nothing like this will be made again.  Check our full review if you’re still on the fence.

Where to Get It: Watch free online at Crackle and Hulu